Axiom at the Saudi-US Investment Forum, Earth Observation Cooperation, and SpaceX Preparing for Starship Flight 9

Starbridge Weekly SpaceUpdate for 5/19/2025

Sophia Space raises $3.5 million for orbiting data centers

Axiom Space is partnering with Sophia to demonstrate the utility of orbital data centers for the Golden Dome.

Sophia Space's orbiting data centers will be built from TILE server modules with communications subsystems. The modules are designed to be deployed in space.  Credit: Sophia Space

Kam Ghaffarian, co-founder and executive chairman of Axiom Space, joined the U.S. delegation at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last week. 

Credit: Kam Ghaffarian Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum

How Earth observation satellite operators are teaming up to tip and cue one another

SpaceNews uses Umbra as an example of satellite companies teaming up and shows how they utilized their synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology to help Maxar Intelligence’s optical satellites ultimately reveal a submarine hidden under netting located in North Korea.

Left: Maxar WorldView Legion image showing a large object under fabric or netting at a dry dock in North Korea, acquired Sept. 10, 2024

Right: Umbra synthetic aperture radar image of the same location one day later

Credit: Maxar and Umbra

SpaceX Closes Rare Acquisition Of Component Manufacturer

Beyond launch: SpaceX’s expanding role in U.S. defense

FAA license update brings SpaceX closer to next Starship launch

Arabsat seeks Telesat Lightspeed capacity as Starlink expands into Saudi Arabia

Foreign SpaceX launch customers seek relief from US tariffs

SpaceX announced May 13th a successful long-duration static fire test of the Starship upper stage that will be used on the upcoming Flight 9 mission

Credit: SpaceX

• SatVu’s thermal imaging satellite winning over customers despite early setback

• Scientists urge NASA to act on Apophis mission concept

• Japan’s iQPS lines up eight SAR launches

• Seraphim picks 10 startups for 15th space accelerator

• Commercial radar satellite firm eyes role in U.S. missile defense

• China to launch Tianwen-2 asteroid sampling mission on May 28

• Voyager Technologies files to go public

• Capella Space bets on quantum future under IonQ ownership

• NGA set to open St. Louis campus in September, aiming to boost public-private geospatial collaboration

• PSLV launch of Indian radar imaging satellite fails

• Rocket Lab launches radar imaging satellite for iQPS

• Landspace launches 6 satellites with enhanced Zhuque-2 rocket

• Op-Ed: Democrats Have Ceded Leadership on Space Policy

• SES to demonstrate ‘satellite orchestration’ tech for military communications

• Virgin Galactic says production of new spaceplanes on track

• Eutelsat’s DoD setback adds to GEO headwinds as LEO growth builds

• House hearing on asteroid threats also takes up budget threats

• Norway signs Artemis Accords

• Space Force officials say it’s too early to pin down Golden Dome costs

• Solestial banks $17 million and welcomes new CEO

• Aschbacher calls on Europe to increase space spending

• Lawmakers raise alarm over rumored cuts to commercial satellite imagery funding

• The Eternal Return of the National Space Council?

• China launches first of 2,800 satellites for AI space computing constellation

• Rocket Lab to launch NASA astrophysics smallsat mission

• Kepler demonstrates space-to-ground optical links for proposed relay network 

• Muon Wins Stage II Contract from NRO

• bluShift Aerospace Pivots After Latest Test

• Solestial Taps Astra Vet as CEO After $17M Series A

• Cofactr Acquires Cogbase to Target US Supply Chain

• Reflect Orbital Raises $20M Series A

• Nuclear battery startup Zeno Power raises $50 million to expand in space and at sea

• Satellite industry continues modest revenue growth trends

• Varda Space reentry capsule lands in Australia, completes hypersonic research mission

• Eutelsat plots digital upgrades for follow-on OneWeb satellites

• European banks help OroraTech raise more funds for wildfire-monitoring constellation

• Senate confirms Troy Meink as Air Force secretary with bipartisan support

• AST SpaceMobile ramping up launches ahead of beta service this year

• Intuitive Machines Says The Moon Is Still Go

• Senate forms ‘Golden Dome Caucus’ to champion missile defense shield

• Altimeter problems, lighting challenges caused IM-2 lunar lander to fall on its side

• Redwire sees opportunities in the U.S. and Europe despite budget and geopolitical uncertainties

• China adds to classified TJS, Yaogan satellite series with two launches

• Space Force selects vendors to build cloud-based ground station marketplaces

• Pentagon taps more firms to build commercial-military satellite network

• Lockheed Martin increases investment in solid rocket startup X-Bow Systems

• MDA Space sees options for robotic arm technology should Gateway be canceled

• Rocket Lab sees Mynaric deal as key for its constellation plans

• Trump administration to keep National Space Council

• Congress Examines NASA’s Planetary Protection Duty

• Redwire Stock Tumbles on US Contract Delays

• DIU Awards 14 Companies Hybrid Space Architecture Contracts

• ICEYE and Rheinmetall Form Sat Production Partnership

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